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Jared Fogle traveled for sex with teens, had child porn

Subway's celebrated pitchman, ditched Tuesday as word leaked that he would be pleading guilty to child-sex and -porn charges, likely will spend at least five years in prison and pay $1.4 million to his victims, according to court documents released Wednesday.

Jared Fogle traveled for sex with teens, had child porn

Local sources say the former Subway spokesman is expected to accept a plea deal. He's accused of possessing child pornography.

Jared Fogle, a former pitchman for Subway, is escorted to a car by police after pleading guilty on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 to charges of child pornography and having sex with minors, according to court documents released by U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Indiana.(Photo: Matt Detrich/The Indianapolis Star)

INDIANAPOLIS — Subway's celebrated pitchman, ditched Tuesday as word leaked that he would be pleading guilty to child-sex and -porn charges, likely will spend at least five years in prison and pay $1.4 million to his victims after striking a deal with federal prosecutors, according to court documents released Wednesday.

Jared Fogle, 37, of Zionsville, Ind., commissioned the executive director of his charity to produce pornography using at least a dozen underage victims, one as young as 6, the charging documents say. Fogle jetted numerous times to New York City to have sex with at least two underage girls while soliciting one of them and other adult escorts in search of ever-younger victims.

“This is about using wealth, status and secrecy to illegally exploit children,” U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler said.

And Fogle repeatedly made his travel plans for sex to coincide with his business trips, according to the charging documents.

Fogle first appeared in a Subway ad in 2000 after losing 245 pounds on his famous Subway diet in 1998; he created his nonprofit Jared Foundation to raise awareness about childhood obesity in 2004. And his estimated $15 million net worth accumulated since then is directly attributable to personal appearances and his more than 300 ads for the sandwich-shop franchise, according to celebritynetworth.com.

He married for the second time in 2010. His wife, Katie McLaughlin Fogle, said Wednesday that she is filing for divorce.

"My focus is exclusively on the well-being of my children," she said through her lawyers. She and Jared Fogle have two children together.

Authorities reviewed 47,000 emails and text messages as part of their investigation into Fogle, who used "wealth, status and secrecy" to exploit children, Minkler said.

In a court appearance Wednesday morning in Indianapolis, Fogle sat with his head down and hands clasped. He nodded affirmatively and spoke softly in response to questions from the judge asking whether he understood the charges and proceedings. He is expected to plead guilty at a later date on one count each of traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and distribution and receipt of child pornography.

Prosecutors have agreed to seek a sentence no greater than 12½ years. Fogle agreed not to seek a sentence of less than five years. In federal cases, prisoners must serve at least 85% of sentences.

According to the court documents, Fogle repeatedly asked one of the minor victims and "several others" to "provide him with access to minors as young as 14 years" for sex. He told one of the victims, "The younger the girl, the better." Fogle said he would "really make it worth her while if she could find one."

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Subway restaurant spokesman Jared Fogle leaves a police vehicle outside his home as a Federal authority holds the door, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Zionsville. FBI agents and Indiana State Police have removed electronics from the property. Charlie Nye/The Star

Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle exits an evidence truck parked in the driveway of his Zionsville home in the 4500 block of Woods Edge Drive in the Austin Oaks subdivision on Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015. Fogle was in the truck with FBI agents and Indiana State Police investigators as they searched computer devices and media storage disks while conducting a criminal investigation. FBI agents carried multiple items from the home to the truck for inspection. FogleÕs attorney says Fogle is cooperating in the probe and has not been detained or arrested. Russell Taylor, 43, who had been the Jared Foundation executive director, faces federal charges after being arrested in late April on seven counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Charlie Nye / The Star, Charlie Nye / The Star

Subway restaurant spokesman Jared Fogle walks into his home with Federal authorities, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Zionsville, Ind. FBI agents and Indiana State Police have removed electronics from the property. FBI Special agent Wendy Osborne said the FBI was conducting an investigation in Zionsville, an affluent Indianapolis suburb, area but wouldn't say whether it involved Fogle or describe the nature of the investigation. Charlie Nye / The Star

Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle (left) gives attorney Ron Elberger directions out of his Austin Oaks neighborhood in Zionsville as Elberger drives him away after a morning-long criminal investigation (still ongoing) in Fogle's home in the 4500 block of Woods Edge Drive about 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2015. The FBI and Indiana State Police went to Fogle's home about six hours prior, carrying multiple computer devices and media storage disks to an evidence truck parked in his driveway. Charlie Nye / The Star, Charlie Nye / The Star

A police dog with a fire marshall from Anderson, Ind. enters the Zionsville home of Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle along with other law enforcement, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Police, during a morning-long investigation at Fogle's home in the 4500 block of Woods Edge Drive in the Austin Oaks subdivision on Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015. Charlie Nye / The Star, Charlie Nye / The Star

A fire marshall from Anderson, Ind. walks a police dog up to the Zionsville home of Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle in the 4500 block of Woods Edge Drive in the Austin Oaks subdivision where law enforcement, including the FBI, Indiana State Police and U.S. Postal Inspection Policeconducted a morning-long investigation at Fogle's home on Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015. Charlie Nye / The Star, Charlie Nye / The Star

The normally quiet Austin Wood subdivision in Zionsville ws bustling with activity on Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015 as the FBI and Indiana State Police conducted a raid during a criminal investigation at the home of Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle in the 4500 block of Woods Edge Drive. Agents took multiple items, including computer devices and media storage disks, from the home to an evidence truck parked in his driveway for inspection. Charlie Nye / The Star, Charlie Nye / The Star

Federal authorities walk outside of the home of Subway restaurant spokesman Jared Fogle, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Zionsville, Ind. FBI agents and Indiana State Police have removed electronics from the property. FBI Special agent Wendy Osborne said Tuesday that the FBI was conducting an investigation in the Zionsville area but wouldn't confirm it involved Fogle. Michael Conroy, AP

Federal authorities walk outside of the home of Subway restaurant spokesman Jared Fogle, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Zionsville, Ind. FBI agents and Indiana State Police have removed electronics from the property. FBI Special agent Wendy Osborne said the FBI was conducting an investigation in the Zionsville, an affluent Indianapolis suburb, area but wouldn't say whether it involved Fogle. Michael Conroy, AP

Federal authorities walk outside of the home of Subway restaurant spokesman Jared Fogle, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Zionsville, Ind. FBI agents and Indiana State Police have removed electronics from the property. FBI Special agent Wendy Osborne said Tuesday that the FBI was conducting an investigation in the Zionsville area but wouldn't confirm it involved Fogle. Michael Conroy, AP

Federal authorities walk outside of the home of Subway restaurant spokesman Jared Fogle, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Zionsville, Ind. FBI agents and Indiana State Police have removed electronics from the property. FBI Special agent Wendy Osborne said Tuesday that the FBI was conducting an investigation in the Zionsville area but wouldn't confirm it involved Fogle. Michael Conroy, AP

U.S. Postal Inspection Police enter the home of Subway spokesman Jared Fogle with a police dog on Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015, during a criminal investigation being conducted by the Indiana State Police and FBI at Fogle's Zionsville home, where an evidence truck sits in the driveway. Charlie Nye / The Star

An FBI agent delivers a handful of media storage disks taken from the Zionsville home of Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle to an evidence truck parked in Fogle's driveway in the 4500 block of Woods Edge Drive in the Austin Oaks subdivision on Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015. The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Police and Indiana State Police conducted a raid during a criminal investigation. Multiple computer devices and disks were taken from the home to the truck for inspection and were reviewed while Fogle was present in the truck with them. Charlie Nye/The Star

An FBI agent delivers a disk taken from the Zionsville home of Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle to an evidence truck parked in Fogle's driveway in the 4500 block of Woods Edge Drive in the Austin Oaks subdivision on Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015. The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Police and Indiana State Police conducted a raid during a criminal investigation. Multiple computer devices and media storage disks were taken from the home to the truck for inspection and were reviewed while Fogle was present in the truck with them. Charlie Nye / The Star, Charlie Nye / The Star

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indiana State Police, Zionsville police and multiple law enforcement personnel conduct a criminal investigation at the Zionsville home of Subway spokesman Jared Fogel on Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015. Charlie Nye / The Star

Two FBI agents exit the Zionsville home of Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle in the 4500 block of Woods Edge Drive in Zionsville during a morning-long investigation in FogleÕs home in the Austin Oaks subdivision on Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015. FogleÕs attorney says Fogle is cooperating in the probe and has not been detained or arrested. Russell Taylor, 43, who had been the Jared Foundation executive director, faces federal charges after being arrested in late April on seven counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Charlie Nye / The Star, Charlie Nye / The Star

FBI agents carry a computer and other items taken from the Zionsville home of Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle to an evidence truck parked in Fogle's driveway in the 4500 block of Woods Edge Drive on Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015 as the FBI and Indiana State Police conduct a raid during a criminal investigation. Multiple items, including computer devices and media storage disks, were taken from the home to the truck for inspection. Charlie Nye / The Star, Charlie Nye / The Star

Two FBI agents (front) exit the Zionsville home of Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle in the 4500 block of Woods Edge Drive in Zionsville during a morning-long investigation in FogleÕs home in the Austin Oaks subdivision on Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015. FogleÕs attorney says Fogle is cooperating in the probe and has not been detained or arrested. Russell Taylor, 43, who had been the Jared Foundation executive director, faces federal charges after being arrested in late April on seven counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Charlie Nye / The Star, Charlie Nye / The Star

Jared Fogle (center), Hometown Hero and SUBWAY Spokesperson, leads the way to the "Subway Fun Run" in Indianapolis Friday, April 2, 2010. To the left is Bruce Pearl (blue shirt), former men's basketball coach of the Tennessee Volunteers and to the right is Danny Manning, former NBA All-Star and former assistant coach of the Kansas Jayhawks. Danese Kenon / The Star file photo

MLB Hall of Famer George Foster (right) gives Jared Fogle, the Subway guy, some expert advice on how to hold and throw a baseball at a Subway in Carmel Friday, June 26, 2009. Jeri Reichanadter / The Star file photo

Amy Beverland Elemenetary School in Lawrence Township has a program to get kids walking and eliminating bad eating choices at school. They held a Healthy Kids Club Celebration Monday, and special guest Jared Fogle, national spokesman for Subway, talked with the kids about how healthy food choices made a big difference in is life. After the presentation, Jared walked on a course on the school grounds with the students. Rich Miller / The Star file photo

Beech Grove Middle School student Anthony Eagan has his picture taken with Subway spokesman Jared Fogle (right). Fogle came to the school to encourage students to eat right and get exercise. He at one time weighed 425 pounds which he says was the result of spending too much time playing Nintendo games, etc. He has lost 245 pounds and says that at one time he remembers parking his car at a mall and when he came back to his car was unable to get in because another car had parked next to him. It was a 3 1/2 hour wait for the driver of that car to return and leave the parking spot. His appearance was sponsored by The American Heart Association. Gary Moore / The Star file photo

Master of ceremonies Jared Fogle (right), with the Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and Sports, walks off the stage at the Indiana Convention Center after introducing speaker Jim McClelland (left), president of Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, at the second INShape Indiana Health Summit on Monday, Nov. 27, 2006. Charlie Nye / The Star file photo

Jared Fogle, spokesperson for Subway, speaking to Dana Witmer's marketing class at the J. Everett Light Career Center and other North Central students and teachers on Friday, March 11, 2005. James Yee / The Star file photo

Subway's Jared Fogle (left) and U.S. runner Meb Keflezighi (right) run along the final stretch of the ING New York City Marathon race route Tuesday, September 21, 2010 near Manhattan's Central Park. Provided by New York Road Runners

He also offered "numerous prostitutes" — apparently adults — with whom he had sex a finder's fee for access to minors he could pay for sex.

Fogle repeatedly made travel plans to have business trips "coincide with his pursuit of commercial sex acts."

The plea agreement says that on "multiple occasions" between about 2011 and 2015 Fogle received child pornography from Russell C. Taylor, the former executive director of his charity, The Jared Foundation. The unidentified victims in the photos and videos were as young as "approximately six years of age."

Minkler said that in 2011, Fogle learned that Taylor was sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl.

"Mr. Fogle did nothing to stop the abuse or report it to authorities," he said, "but chose instead to receive and repeatedly view the child pornography involving the girl and ... other minors. ... He preyed on minor victims who did not have the ability to protect themselves."

In a statement released Wednesday by attorney James Reed of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP on behalf of Fogle's wife, Katie, she said, "Obviously, I am extremely shocked and disappointed by the recent developments involving Jared. I am in the process of seeking a dissolution of the marriage. My focus is exclusively on the well-being of my children."

Fogle married teacher Katie McLaughlin, then 30, in summer 2010, People magazine reported.

In a statement on Twitter on Wednesday, Subway — which made Fogle its pitchman in 2000 — said, "Jared Fogle’s actions are inexcusable and do not represent our brand’s values. We had already ended our relationship with Jared."

Fogle's family also released a statement Wednesday.

“Our family is shocked and profoundly disappointed in Jared's abhorrent criminal behavior and we are very concerned for the well being of those affected by his conduct. At the same time, we are gratified that Jared is accepting responsibility for what he has done by agreeing to plea guilty to the charges filed today and by volunteering to make restitution to the victims. We are also gratified that he is seeking medical treatment."

FBI, Indiana State Police and other agencies served a search warrant July 7 at Fogle's home in Zionsville, Ind.

The search followed the arrest April 29 of Taylor, 43, on preliminary child pornography charges. A statement from Subway at the time said the company believed the search at Fogle's home was related to the case against Taylor.

That day, Subway announced it had suspended its relationship with Fogle. On Tuesday, the company said on Twitter, "We no longer have a relationship with Jared and have no further comment."

Fogle fired Taylor soon after his arrest, saying he was "shocked" and that the foundation was "severing all ties" with the colleague who often accompanied him to the charitable events.

Taylor attempted suicide a week after his arrest while in custody at the Marion County (Ind.) Jail. He remains in federal custody.

A tip from a woman who contacted the Indiana State Police prompted the investigation into Taylor, court records said. The woman said Taylor, among other things, offered to send her images and video of young girls by text messaging.

Fogle became a sandwich pitchman after a 1999 article in Indiana University's student newspaper. It detailed how, in one year, while eating two Subway sandwiches per day, Fogle went from 425 pounds with a 60-inch waist to 180 pounds and a 34-inch waist.

The following year, Fogle's first Subway commercial was televised, and he became a star, starting a career that drove sales for the company.